Horses, Camels & Camping - Discover Zavkhan
Included In-Country Services
Horses, Camels and Camping – The Great Outdoors!
Experience the life of nomadic herders of horses and camels, the life of the descendants of Chinggis in the pristine beauty of the country. Visit places where desert borders lush green forests and where sand-dunes embrace clear streams and lakes – great for riding horses and camels.
Riding camels across majestic sand-dunes you will imagine yourself as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, and riding horses in the foothills of the sacred Mount Otgontenger you can feel the excitement of galloping across wide valleys, and through green hills.
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Sightseeing and Welcoming Dinner
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to a 4-star hotel. In the afternoon you will go sightseeing including visits to the Winter Palace of the last Mongolian living Buddha, the National History Museum and the Fine Arts Museum. Welcome dinner we will have in a local restaurant, overnight at the hotel.
Before Riding Horses and Camels, We’ll Overland by Jeep to the Famed Capital of the Mongol Empire – Karakorum
Early in the morning, you will be collected at your hotel by your guide and driver and you will head out to the west of Ulaanbaatar. The scenery is wide-open steppe with rolling hills in the background. You will stop at a place called “Sand Stripe” and have a packed lunch. You will reach the Karakorum in the afternoon. The Karakorum, the ancient capital of Mongolia, is now a small township.
On arrival, the first and most obvious landmarks are the massive walls of the Erdenezuu Monastery. This Monastery was built in 1586 and is surrounded by a massive 400m x 400m wall. Only a few temples remain standing after the communist purges. In previous times the grounds held over 60 temples with 10,000 monks using them for their daily worship. You will visit this Monastery and then head onto the Karakorum ger camp. Dinner and overnight will be at the ger camp.
Visiting Karakorum before reaching Mount Khogno Khan for Hiking and Rest
In the morning we will visit the Erdenezuu Monastery built on the site of the ancient Karakorum. Then we will head back and after 4 hours of driving, we will reach Mount Khogno Khan. On arrival, you will make your way to the ger camp at the base of Mount Khogno Khan. This mountain is perfect for some afternoon hiking and there are some remains of an ancient monastery that should be explored. Dinner and overnight will be at the ger camp.
Overland by Jeep to Ulaanbaatar
We will drive back to Ulaanbaatar and get transferred to the hotel upon arrival.
Flight to Zavkhan to Start Our Riding Horses and Camels Itinerary Portion
After a relaxed morning at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Tosontsengel. Your guide will accompany you on board and after an hour and a half you will arrive in the jewel of the Khangai Mountains. On arrival, we will meet the rest of our staff and drive to the Ider river via Mergen Pass. The Ider river is fed by the Khangai Mountain Range. We will set our tented camp on the banks of the Ider River.
Overland by Jeep towards Bayan Lake
We hit the road again and now head to Lake Bayan via Lake Telmen, Songino, and Santmargats villages. Our destination, Lake Bayan, is surrounded by sand- dunes and is like a blue gem set in a golden ring. We will reach the lake in the late afternoon and set up base camp at its shore. Dinner and overnight will be in the camp.
Camel Riding Along Bayan Lake
Our camel men will come after breakfast and they will help you to choose a camel and give you a short briefing. Then we will mount our camels and ride for a while to get used to the tack and the camels. In the afternoon we will ride along the shore of the lake. Lake Bayan is a small salt lake laying close to Bor Khyar sand-dunes. Overnight in the same camp.
Camel Riding Across Sand Dunes
Continue Camel Riding Across Sand Dunes towards Overnight Camp
Overland by Jeep to Mount Otgontenger’s Nart Lake to Overnight and Start Riding Horses
Riding Horses towards Shireegiin River
Last Day of Riding Horses – Easy Going Day
Overland by Jeep towards the Khaan Taishir Mountain Range
Overland by Jeep towards Altai Town – Return Flight to Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar Sightseeing and Shopping
Departure
This tour can be organized as an individual request
2 domestic flights, transportation within Mongolia, twin accommodation in a 4-star hotel. Single accommodation can be arranged at an additional cost. Tented accommodation while on trek, three meals a day, English-speaking guide, all sightseeing costs, transfers, camel or horse hire where specified, support staff including drivers, horse/camel men and camp assistants.
International transportation, travel insurance, visas, departure tax, alcoholic drinks, gratuities, items of a personal nature.
It is the responsibility of the client to be fully covered with travel and medical insurance while traveling in Mongolia.
An additional ‘single supplement’ price is given with all our prices. This refers to single room accommodation in hotels only. Upon request, single supplement in the countryside can be provided at the additional cost. In case single accommodation in ger camps was not provided the amount would be calculated based on the missing nights and reimbursed.
Nomads cannot be held responsible for over bookings, as long as the company can prove with sufficient documentation that overbooking has been the error of the third party.
Should circumstances beyond our control, such as the imposition of quarantine restrictions, any changes of domestic flight or train schedules, require a change of itinerary, we will inform your agent and propose an equivalent itinerary. Again, Nomads cannot take over the responsibility for the Airlines or the National Train Company. The traveler is responsible for having proper travel documents, such as a valid passport, proper visa and the necessary passport pictures.
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